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March 21, 2013 | Europe Eurasia: Great Britain

People with ID Die Decades Younger than Others, Study Shows

By Karl Hejlik

Among the disturbing findings of a reseach study conducted in the UK were the facts that men with intellectual disabilities die on average 13 years younger than men without ID, and women with ID die 20 years younger. The premature deaths are unrelated to their primary health issue, but instead is a result of preventable lifestle factors like poor diet and lack of exercise.
People with intellectual disabilities "are struggling to have their illnesses investigated, diagnosed and treated to the same extent as other people. These are shocking findings and must serve as a wake-up call to all of us that action is urgently required," according to Dr Pauline Heslop, the study’s lead author at the University of Bristol Norah Fry Research Centre.